Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools November 2014

Indian Trail Elementary teacher first ‘Hometown Hero’ Kristine Barberio, a fifth-grade she said. teacher at Indian Trail Elementary The nominations for the School, got quite a surprise Hometown Hero Teacher Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, when she Appreciation Award are ongoing was greeted in her classroom and throughout the school year, and named the first UCPS Hometown may be made for any teacher Hero. who is believed to deserve special Barberio was recognized recognition. by the law firm of Charles G. Winners are chosen based on Monnett III & Associates in the number of votes they get after Charlotte. The designation being nominated on Charles G. recognizes the commitment Monnett III & Associates’ web site. teachers make to their students The winning teacher in each by showcasing one teacher each county receives a $250 Visa month in Mecklenburg, Lincoln, gift card for classroom supplies, Catawba, Iredell, Cabarrus and a Domino’s Pizza party for 30 Union counties. individuals and a commemorative “This celebrates the hard Hometown Hero crystal apple. work and dedication of teachers Students, families and faculty throughout our area,” said a may nominate and vote for their written statement from the law special teacher by visiting the firm. firm’s web site at http://www. It was no surprise to Nathan carolinalaw.com/HOMETOWNJudy, one of Barberio’s fifth-grade Kristine Barberio, a fifth-grade teacher at Indian Trail Elementary HERO-TEACHER-APPRECIATIONSchool, and her class cheer after she is chosen as the first UCPS students. “I knew from the first PROGRAM.shtml Hometown Hero. day of school that Ms. Barberio --This article was written by was the right teacher for me,” he Deb Coates Bledsoe and Tahira Stalberte and provided courtesy of the Communications Office of the said. “She is strict, but we have fun and learn so much.” Union County Public Schools. As for Barbeiro, there is no place she would rather be than in her classroom. “I love teaching and I love coming to school every day,” Benton Heights teacher is October ‘Hometown Hero’ What started as a normal Tuesday morning for Jennifer West turned out to be one of the best days of her teaching career. The Benton Heights Elementary pre-kindergarten teacher was recognized as the October winner for the Hometown Hero award during a surprise presentation on Oct. 14. West was recognized by the law firm of Charles G. Monnett III & Associates in Charlotte. Each month the firm honors teachers in Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Catawba, Iredell, Cabarrus and Union counties. “I do everything I can to be sure that my children develop a true love for learning and see school as a place they really want to be,” West said. West has been teaching for nine years. She taught for five years at Marshville Elementary and has been working at Benton Heights for four years. “There are a million things I love about teaching, but most of all is giving my students their very first classroom experience and making sure it is a wonderful one,” she said. The nominations for the Hometown Hero Teacher Appreciation Award are ongoing throughout the school year. Winners are chosen based on the number of votes through an online voting contest held on the law firm’s website. The winning teacher in each county receives a $250 Visa gift card for classroom supplies and a Domino’s pizza party for his/her class. Students, families and faculty may nominate and vote for their special teacher by visiting the firm’s web site. Jennifer West, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Benton Heights Elementary School, and her class are excited after she is chosen as the October UCPS Hometown Hero. http://www.carolinalaw.com/hometown-hero-teacher-appreciation-program.aspx Parent Teacher Magazine • Nov/Dec 2014 • 3

Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools November 2014 | Page 5